Sanders Meets With Homeowners

By Miriam Rosenberg

Standing in front of one of the homes built in recent years Steve Cooper, the president of the Frank Avenue Civic Association, talks to his fellow residents about fighting the building of the hotel. Councilman James Sanders Jr. met with area residents who live near the proposed hotel that is set to be built on Beach 44 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard.

Updating residents on the issue, Sanders said the owner Amritpal Sandhu said he would increase parking spaces from two to 25, put a restaurant in the hotel and expressed his willingness to meet with a small group of community members to discuss the issue.

“The developer is responding to you,” said Sanders.

Though termed a transient hotel on Department of Buildings permits, Sandhu said the hotel will be part of La Quinta Inns and its clients will be airline personnel and visitors to Rockaway.

Sanders also addressed how the city’s Department of Housing & Preservation Development dropped the ball when it failed to buy a parcel of land meant for the Edgemere Urban Renewal Area that was instead sold to Sandhu. It is a wrong that probably cannot be righted. The developer would want the city to pay for the land, plus whatever monies were put into the development. “The city doesn’t do that,” said Sanders at the August 28 meeting. “The city will only buy it at assessed value – how much the land was worth.” The councilman said the developer is unwilling to take such a loss.

On a street across from the construction site Councilman James Sanders Jr., who stated his position against the hotel, gives residents updates on the issue. Photos by Miriam Rosenberg. “HPD needs to come [here] and explain what happened,” said Sanders. “How did this slip?”

Behind Sanders is the construction site for the proposed hotel. A La Quinta representative issued the following statement to The Wave: “The hotel in Rockaway is a franchised hotel and we support the property owner, Mr. Sandhu, who is an experienced hotelier and currently owns several quality hotels in urban areas,” said Teresa Ferguson, the director of public relations. “We believe this La Quinta Inn & Suites will not only enhance the area but also be an asset to the community by bringing jobs and offering quality lodging to business travelers and family and friends traveling to Edgemere.”

The traffic sign that residents surround during the rally on Beach 44 Street on Tuesday could be a message to the developer – Do Not Enter.